Systems And Methods For Nudge Roulette

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a roulette gaming system including a roulette wheel including a plurality of numbers, a plurality of indicators associated with the plurality of numbers, and a game control component adapted to determine an additional winning number. A winning number is selected from the plurality of numbers. The game control component is further adapted to indicate the additional winning number with at least one of the plurality of indicators.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to, and claims the benefit of, Provisional Application No. 60/858,138, filed on Nov. 10, 2006, and entitled “Method and System for Improved Roulette Gaming.” The foregoing application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to roulette gaming. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for nudge roulette.

In a traditional game of roulette, a player makes one or more wagers based on where the player believes a ball will stop on a roulette wheel. For example, in the traditional game, the roulette wheel is spun and a ball is placed on the wheel. At some point in time, the ball may land on a track or pocket associated with one of the numbers on the roulette wheel. In the traditional roulette game, the number at which the ball stops moving is the winning number.

The game of roulette has many wagering opportunities for its players. However, additional wagering opportunities would provide the players with more excitement in playing roulette as well as the opportunity to increase their winnings. Further, with additional wagering opportunities, more players are likely to play roulette, thus potentially resulting in increased revenue for the operators of the improved roulette game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a roulette gaming system including a roulette wheel including a plurality of numbers, a plurality of indicators associated with the plurality of numbers, and a game control component adapted to determine an additional winning number. A winning number is selected from the plurality of numbers. The game control component is further adapted to indicate the additional winning number with at least one of the plurality of indicators.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for roulette gaming including determining a winning number from a plurality of numbers, determining an additional winning number from the plurality of numbers, and indicating the additional winning number with at least one of a plurality of indicators. The plurality of numbers is included in a roulette wheel.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions including a winning number determination routine configured to determine a winning number from a plurality of numbers, an additional winning number determination routine configured to determine an additional winning number from the plurality of numbers, and an indication routine configured to indicate the additional winning number with at least one of a plurality of indicators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a roulette gaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for a method for roulette gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the presently described technology provide for additional and alternative betting options for the traditional game of roulette. Certain embodiments provide betting options including a winning roulette number and one or more additional winning “nudge” numbers that may be adjacent to the winning roulette number. In addition, certain embodiments may be used to provide betting options which offer higher jackpots than those traditionally offered by the game of roulette.

FIG. 1 illustrates a roulette gaming system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes a roulette wheel 110, a plurality of indicators 120, and a game control component 140. The wheel 110 includes a plurality of numbers 130.

The game control component 140 is in communication with the roulette wheel 110 and the plurality of indicators 120. The game control component 140 may communicate with the wheel 110 and/or the indicators 120 via a wired or wireless connection, for example. For example, the indicators 120 and the game control component 140 may communicate via a wired or wireless network. As another example, the indicators 120 and the game control component 140 may be integrally connected with no additional connections or networks between the indicators 120 and the game control component 140.

As discussed above, in a traditional game of roulette, a player makes one or more wagers based on where the player believes a ball will stop on a roulette wheel. For example, in the traditional game, the roulette wheel is spun and a ball is placed on the wheel. At some point in time, the ball may land on a track or pocket associated with one of the numbers on the roulette wheel. In the traditional roulette game, the number at which the ball stops moving is the winning number.

In operation, the wheel 110 includes a plurality of numbers 130. A winning number 130 is selected. The winning number 130 may be selected using traditional roulette methods, such as placing a ball on the spinning wheel 110, for example. As another example, the winning number 130 may be selected randomly and/or using a virtual ball, such as in an electronic roulette game.

In accordance with embodiments of the presently described technology, additional opportunities are provided for players of the roulette gaming system 100 to win. In addition to the winning number selected as described above, one or more additional numbers 130 are determined to be additional winning numbers 130. The determination of the additional winning number(s) 130 is referred to as a “nudge.” The additional winning numbers may be indicated by one or more of the plurality of indicators 120, for example.

The wheel 110 may be similar to a roulette wheel used in known roulette games, for example. As discussed above, the wheel 110 includes a plurality of numbers 130. Each of the plurality of numbers 130 are associated with a track or pocket for a ball. The numbers 130 may be printed or presented around a periphery of roulette wheel 110, for example. While one set of numbers 130 is illustrated in FIG. 1, various other sets of numbers 130 may be used in accordance with embodiments of the presently described technology. For example, numbers 130 may include a “00” number. As another example, letters and/or symbols may be used in place of the numbers 130.

Each indicator 120 is associated with a number 130. Each indicator 120 is adapted to indicate and/or display the associated number 130. In certain embodiments, the indicators 120 are used to identify the additional winning number(s) 130. In certain embodiments, an indicator 120 is used to identify the winning number 130 selected by a ball. In certain embodiments, the indicators 120 are used to identify the winning number 130 and the additional winning numbers.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of indicators 120 is positioned around the wheel 110. The indicators 120 may not spin with the wheel 110, for example. Each indicator may be associated with the number 130 closest to the indicator 120 when the wheel 110 stops moving, for example. In certain embodiments, the plurality of indicators 120 are included in the wheel 110. The indicators 120 may spin with the wheel 110, for example. Each indicator 120 may be associated with the number 130 it is positioned closest to on the wheel 110.

The indicator 120 may be a light, light emitting diode (LED), or other visual device, for example. For example, indicators 120 may be embodied in lights that illuminate when selected or activated, thereby differentiating one illuminated indicator 120 from other, non-illuminated indicators 120. In another example, indicators 120 may be embodied in the numbers 130. That is, when a number 130 is selected or activated, the number 130 itself may be illuminated as indicator 120. In certain embodiments, the indicator 120 may be a display screen listing additional winning numbers.

The indicator 120 may also be parts of an auxiliary video display (not shown) which may display the winning number and additional numbers or may replicate in video form the roulette wheel and the display of the indictors 120.

The game control component 140 is adapted to control the indicators 120. For example, in certain embodiments, the game control component 140 may communicate with one or more indicators 120 associated with a winning number 130 and direct these indicators 120 to become illuminated. While players who wagered on the winning number 130 may win their wager, players who wagered on a number 130 associated with the illuminated indicators 120 also may win their wager as well. As another example, the game control component 140 may communicate with one or more indicators 120 to indicate associated additional winning numbers 130.

In certain embodiments, the game control component 140 is adapted to determine an additional winning number 130. In certain embodiments, a plurality of additional winning numbers 130 are determined. For example, two additional winning numbers 130 may be determined in addition to the winning number 130, for example numbers adjacent to the wining number on the wheel or one the wagering layout. In certain embodiments, a random number of additional winning numbers 130 are determined. For example, in one game, a single additional winning number 130 may be determined and in a second game, three additional winning numbers 130 may be determined.

In certain embodiments, an additional winning number 130 is adjacent to the winning number 130. For example, if the winning number 130 is “4,” then the additional winning number 130 may be “21.” In certain embodiments, an additional winning number 130 is not adjacent to the winning number 130. In certain embodiments, an additional winning number 130 is opposite the winning number 130. For example, if the winning number 130 is “26,” then the additional winning number 130 may be “10” for a wheel 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In certain embodiments, a range of adjacent numbers 130 is selected as additional winning numbers 130. For example, if the winning number 130 is “29,” then the additional winning numbers 130 may include the range “7,” “28,” “12,” and “35.” As another example, if the winning number 130 is “29,” then the additional winning numbers 130 may include the range “1,” “20,” and “14.”

In certain embodiments, one or more numbers 130 adjacent to one side of winning number 130 are selected as additional winning numbers, with the side being randomly selected by game control component 140. For example, if number “11” is the winning number 130 in a game of roulette, the game control component 140 may randomly select the direction in which indicators 120 are illuminated to indicate selected additional winning numbers 130. Therefore, if the game control component 140 selects numbers 130 to the left of “11,” then one or more of indicators 120 associated with numbers “36,” “13,” and so on, is illuminated. Conversely, if the game control component 140 selects numbers 130 to the right of “11,” then one or more of indicators 120 associated with numbers “30,” “8,” and so on, is illuminated.

In certain embodiments, an additional winning number 130 is selected randomly from the plurality of numbers 130. For example, an additional winning number 130 may be selected randomly, independent of the winning number 130. As another example, an additional winning number 130 may be selected to be a random distance from the winning number 130. For example, if the winning number 130 is “35,” the additional winning numbers 130 may be selected to be four numbers away: “32” and “29.” In certain embodiments an additional winning number 130 is predetermined.

The odds or payouts for the wagers placed on the winning number 130 and/or additional winning numbers 130 may vary in accordance with embodiments of the presently described technology. For example, the payout or odds on a wager placed on a number that is an additional winning number 130 may be less than or greater than the odds or payout on the winning number 130.

In an embodiment of the presently described technology, a wager placed on a number 130 that is an additional winning number 130 wins (or is paid) only if the player making the wager also paid an additional amount to be eligible for the additional winning number 130 associated with an illuminated indicator 120. That is, a regular wager on the additional winning number 130 is insufficient. The player must also pay an additional amount to be eligible for such a win or payout.

In an embodiment of the presently described technology, an additional winning number 130 is not determined in every game. For example, the game control component 140 may randomly select which games of roulette have a nudge occur. That is, in this embodiment, not every game of roulette results in additional indicators 120 becoming illuminated once the ball comes to rest at a winning number 130. Instead, for example, at random games of roulette (with “game” indicating a new wagering opportunity for players), the game control component 140 causes indicators 120 to be illuminated while in other games, no indicators 120 are illuminated. In certain embodiments, additional winning numbers are selected based on elapsed time. For example, a nudge may occur 10 times per hour. In certain embodiments, a nudge occurs when a particular number of players and/or wagers are made. For example, a nudge may only occur when at least 5 players are playing the game.

In an embodiment of the presently described technology, the nudge occurs for a random number of indicators 120. For example, the game control component 140 may cause a randomly selected number of indicators 120 to become illuminated. In this way, the number of winning illuminated indicators 120 may be randomized for each game of roulette.

In an embodiment of the presently described technology, wagers on numbers 130 that are additional winning numbers 130 are treated as “mulligans.” That is, if a player wagers on a number 130 that is an additional winning number 130, that player does not win any additional amount, but instead is given his/her wager back. In this way, the wager is treated similar to a “push” in blackjack. This embodiment therefore provides players with free plays (a non-loss of a wager and return of wager, for example) when their wagers are associated with non-winning numbers 130 but that are associated with an additional winning number 130.

In an embodiment of the presently described technology, the wheel 110 is embodied in a video format. That is, the wheel 110 is presented graphically on a display device, such as a CRT, LCD, or computer monitor.

In an embodiment, multiple roulette wheels 110 are presented graphically on a display device. In such an embodiment, one roulette wheel 110 represents a roulette game where the winning number 130 is selected. The one or more other roulette wheels 110 is used to generate or select one or more “nudge” numbers 130. That is, the additional winning numbers 130 are determined by playing one or more additional roulette games on additional graphically presented roulette wheels 110. The additional games may be played prior to, after, or concurrent with the roulette game used to select the winning number 130, for example.

In another embodiment of the presently described technology, multiple balls may be used in a single roulette wheel 110 (whether wheel 110 is an actual wheel or is a graphically represented wheel presented on a display device as described above) to determine multiple winning numbers 130. In addition, a plurality of balls may be used to determine a winning number 130 and one or more additional winning numbers 130. For example, one or more additional balls spun around on wheel 110 may be used to determine the additional winning numbers 130. In an embodiment, the balls used may be of different colors and/or diameters, for example, in order to differentiate between the ball that represents the winning number 130 and the ball(s) that represent additional winning numbers 130 (the nudge numbers 130), as described above. This multiple ball embodiment may be presented in a video display, for example. That is, the multiple balls and roulette wheel 110 may be graphically presented on a display device, for example. In another example, a plurality of concentric wheels 110 may be presented on a display device, with each wheel 110 having one or more balls spun thereon to determine a winning number 130 on one wheel 130 and one or more additional winning numbers 130 or nudge numbers 130 determined on each of one or more wheels 130.

The game control component 140 may be implemented as a computer or “CPU”, for example. In addition, various devices and apparatuses comprising a processor and capable of carrying out one or more functions at the direction of a set of instructions for a computer (such as computer software applications or code) may be used as game control component 140 without departing from the scope of embodiments of the presently described technology.

Certain embodiments of the system 100 may be implemented in software, firmware, and/or hardware, for example. For example, certain embodiments may be implemented as a set of instructions or routines stored on a machine-readable medium, such as a CD, DVD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, RAM, ROM, flash memory, and/or other medium, for execution on a computer and/or other processing device. Certain embodiments may be implemented on a standalone gaming terminal, a bank of gaming terminals, a network of gaming terminals, and/or a client-server system communicating with one or more gaming terminals and/or other devices, for example.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for a method 200 for roulette gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method 200 includes the following steps, which will be described below in more detail. At step 210, a winning number is determined. At step 220, an additional winning number is determined. At step 230, the additional winning number is indicated. The method 200 is described with reference to elements of systems described above, but it should be understood that other implementations are possible.

At step 210, a winning number is determined. The winning number may be similar to the winning number 130, discussed above, for example. The winning number may be determined using a wheel similar to the wheel 110, discussed above, for example. The winning number may be selected using traditional roulette methods, such as placing a ball on the spinning wheel 110, for example. As another example, the winning number may be selected randomly and/or using a virtual ball, such as in an electronic roulette game.

As discussed above, in a traditional game of roulette, a player makes one or more wagers based on where the player believes a ball will stop on a roulette wheel. For example, in the traditional game, the roulette wheel is spun and a ball is placed on the wheel. At some point in time, the ball may land on a track or pocket associated with one of the numbers on the roulette wheel. In the traditional roulette game, the number at which the ball stops moving is the winning number.

At step 220, an additional winning number is determined. The additional winning number may be similar to the additional winning number 130, discussed above, for example. In accordance with embodiments of the presently described technology, additional opportunities are provided for players of roulette to win. In addition to the winning number selected as described above at step 210, one or more additional numbers are determined to be additional winning numbers. The determination of the additional winning number(s) is referred to as a “nudge.”

In certain embodiments, a plurality of additional winning numbers are determined. For example, two additional winning numbers may be determined in addition to the winning number determined at step 210, discussed above. In certain embodiments, a random number of additional winning numbers are determined. For example, in one game, a single additional winning number may be determined and in a second game, three additional winning numbers may be determined.

In certain embodiments, the additional winning number is determined by a game control component 140. The game control component may be similar to the game control component 140, discussed above, for example.

At step 230, the additional winning number is indicated. The additional winning number may be the additional winning number determined at step 220, discussed above, for example. The additional winning number may be indicated by one or more indicators, for example. The indicators may be similar to the indicators 120, discussed above, for example.

In certain embodiments, each indicator is associated with a number. Each indicator is adapted to indicate and/or display the associated number. In certain embodiments, the indicators are used to identify the additional winning number(s). In certain embodiments, an indicator is used to identify the winning number determined at step 210, discussed above.

The indicator may be a light, light emitting diode (LED), or other visual device, for example. For example, indicators may be embodied in lights that illuminate when selected or activated, thereby differentiating one illuminated indicator from other, non-illuminated indicators. In another example, indicators may be embodied in the numbers, similar to the numbers 130, discussed above. That is, when a number is selected or activated, the number itself may be illuminated as indicator. In certain embodiments, the indicator may be a display screen listing additional winning numbers.

In certain embodiments, a game control component similar to the game control component 140 is adapted to control the indicators. For example, in certain embodiments, the game control component may communicate with one or more indicators associated with an additional winning number (such as the one determined at step 220, discussed above) and direct these indicators to become illuminated.

One or more of the steps of the method 200 may be implemented alone or in combination in hardware, firmware, and/or as a set of instructions in software, for example. Certain embodiments may be provided as a set of instructions residing on a computer-readable medium, such as a memory, hard disk, DVD, or CD, for execution on a general purpose computer or other processing device.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may omit one or more of these steps and/or perform the steps in a different order than the order listed. For example, some steps may not be performed in certain embodiments of the present invention. As a further example, certain steps may be performed in a different temporal order, including simultaneously, than listed above.

Thus, certain embodiments provide systems and methods for nudge roulette. Certain embodiments have a technical effect of nudge roulette.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teaching. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications and incorporate those features that come within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A roulette gaming system, the system including: a roulette wheel including a plurality of numbers, wherein a winning number is selected from the plurality of numbers; a plurality of indicators associated with the plurality of numbers; and a game control component adapted to determine an additional winning number, wherein the game control component is further adapted to indicate the additional winning number with at least one of the plurality of indicators.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of additional winning numbers are determined.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is determined in randomly selected games.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is adjacent to the winning number.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the side of the winning number the additional winning number is adjacent to is determined randomly.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is opposite the winning number.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is one of a range of additional winning numbers.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is determined randomly.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein a player makes an additional payment to be eligible to win on the additional winning number.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein a bet of a player on a number determined to be the additional winning number is returned.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is determined using a second ball.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional winning number is determined using a second wheel.
 13. A method for roulette gaming, the method including: determining a winning number from a plurality of numbers, wherein the plurality of numbers is included in a roulette wheel; determining an additional winning number from the plurality of numbers; and indicating the additional winning number with at least one of a plurality of indicators.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of additional winning numbers are determined.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional winning number is determined randomly.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional winning number is adjacent to the winning number.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the side of the winning number the additional winning number is adjacent to is determined randomly.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional winning number is determined based at least in part on the winning number.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional winning number is determined by a game control component.
 20. A computer-readable medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions including: a winning number determination routine configured to determine a winning number from a plurality of numbers; an additional winning number determination routine configured to determine an additional winning number from the plurality of numbers; and an indication routine configured to indicate the additional winning number with at least one of a plurality of indicators. 